Nursing home worker accused of stealing pills

MOORHEAD – A Fargo woman is accused of stealing more than 100 prescription pain pills from the Moorhead nursing home at which she was working.

Charges filed Monday in Clay County District Court against Laura Beth Aanstad, 31, say she was working at the Golden Living Center at 2810 2nd Ave. N. in Moorhead after having been treated for addiction to prescription medication.

Documents say police responded to a call from the nursing director at Golden Living after she discovered Jan. 16 that someone had broken into the medicine cabinet in the nurses’ station. Of the 34 staff members working there, all had their urine tested, and only Aanstad tested positive for the three drugs, police allege in a complaint.

When the officer contacted Aanstad, she claimed she had only taken 15 to 20 pills, police allege in court records.

Aanstad, whose employment required that she stay in treatment, told police she knew the thefts would damage her career, police say in court records.

She is charged with five counts of felony drug possession. Her first court appearance is set for May 21.